I am planning to redo my TL "Resurrection City" in the style of "Eastern Entrance." What I have below is a sample partial transcript of the '68 RFK-Nixon debate. Try to picture this and tell me your thoughts and possible improvements.
MODERATOR: Our candidates need no introduction. On my left is the Democratic candidate, Senator Robert F. Kennedy. On my right is Senator Richard M. Nixon, the Republican candidate. This debate will consist of an opening statement of no more than two minutes from each candidate, starting with Senator Kennedy. Following, a member of our panel will ask questions on different topics of each candidate. After fifteen minutes, they will have a chance to directly pose each other questions on the above. Following twenty minutes of debate, there will be one curveball question from an audience member. That will be the conclusion to tonight's debate. Senator Kennedy, you may go ahead.
KENNEDY: "Today, as I speak, our country is being divided along regional, ethnic, and socioeconomic lines as never before in the past century. Among the reasons for these divisions is the ongoing war in Vietnam. Thousands upon thousands of Vietnamese have died in this conflict without a clearly stated objective on the part of this Administration. In the final analysis, this is South Vietnam's war to fight against an aggressor..."
NIXON: "What I propose is that before we embark on development programs, law and order must be restored as our first priority. This is not a question of the chicken or the egg, but rather that of a medevac. The Huey does not land until the landing zone is secure, and Senator Kennedy proposes to land before the zone, in this case the affected urban areas, are secure."
KENNEDY: "First off, I would like to say that Senator Nixon's analogy fits well with what I've seen and read of his campaign. An increasing emphasis on law and order, a definition of law and order where the only interaction most minority groups have with the law being the back of a squad car, handcuffs, or other such occurrences. There are also civil rights laws, open-housing laws, and the First Amendment. Senator Nixon has explained his plans for enforcement and riot control, but he has been short on specifics for any upcoming legislation. Not just on the campaign trail, but in the Senate as well."
NIXON: "Let me say this. All the laws currently on our books must be enforced. Before we propose additional legislation, as you have previously mentioned, there should be compliance with existing laws, something which the current Administration has clearly failed to do..."
I'll add more on the war and direct exchanges, but what's your opinion?
MODERATOR: Our candidates need no introduction. On my left is the Democratic candidate, Senator Robert F. Kennedy. On my right is Senator Richard M. Nixon, the Republican candidate. This debate will consist of an opening statement of no more than two minutes from each candidate, starting with Senator Kennedy. Following, a member of our panel will ask questions on different topics of each candidate. After fifteen minutes, they will have a chance to directly pose each other questions on the above. Following twenty minutes of debate, there will be one curveball question from an audience member. That will be the conclusion to tonight's debate. Senator Kennedy, you may go ahead.
KENNEDY: "Today, as I speak, our country is being divided along regional, ethnic, and socioeconomic lines as never before in the past century. Among the reasons for these divisions is the ongoing war in Vietnam. Thousands upon thousands of Vietnamese have died in this conflict without a clearly stated objective on the part of this Administration. In the final analysis, this is South Vietnam's war to fight against an aggressor..."
NIXON: "What I propose is that before we embark on development programs, law and order must be restored as our first priority. This is not a question of the chicken or the egg, but rather that of a medevac. The Huey does not land until the landing zone is secure, and Senator Kennedy proposes to land before the zone, in this case the affected urban areas, are secure."
KENNEDY: "First off, I would like to say that Senator Nixon's analogy fits well with what I've seen and read of his campaign. An increasing emphasis on law and order, a definition of law and order where the only interaction most minority groups have with the law being the back of a squad car, handcuffs, or other such occurrences. There are also civil rights laws, open-housing laws, and the First Amendment. Senator Nixon has explained his plans for enforcement and riot control, but he has been short on specifics for any upcoming legislation. Not just on the campaign trail, but in the Senate as well."
NIXON: "Let me say this. All the laws currently on our books must be enforced. Before we propose additional legislation, as you have previously mentioned, there should be compliance with existing laws, something which the current Administration has clearly failed to do..."
I'll add more on the war and direct exchanges, but what's your opinion?